Malawians to get weekly report on ‘cashgate’ redress

Malawians will be getting weekly progress reports on the implementation of the Action Plan to Address Weaknesses in the Financial Management Systems (IFMIS), Information Minister, Brown Mpinganjira disclosed on Monday.

Mpinganjira said government had set up a ministerial committee to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan and that the committee would be meeting every Wednesday (with the first meeting having taken place on November 20, 2013) to review progress of the Plan

“The committee is supported by a committee of senior officials which is chaired by the Chief Secretary to the government with support of the Secretary to the Treasury.

“After every meeting of the team, I will be informing the nation through journalists about how government is fairing in ensuring that financial management systems are strengthened and how prosecution of those involved in the scam is progressing,” Mpinganjira explained.

The Minister said government had also invited development partners to participate in the meetings of the committee where the latter’s views would be sought.

On the progress registered in the implementation of the Plan as of November 19, 2013, Mpinganjira said the Action Plan had lined up over 60 measures to be implemented in the short and long terms to address both the issues concerning recent cases of theft and fraud, and to avert similar occurrences in future.

Mpinganjira: Addressing reporters

The Action Plan is segmented into five sections namely: Investigations, and Prosecutions, Auditing, Accounting, Administrative Measures, and Reforms and there remarkable progress in all the segments, according to Mpinganjira.

“In Investigations and Prosecutions, for instance, both the DPP and ACB are currently working towards elevating all cases being handled presently to the High Court from Magistrate Courts,” explained Mpinganjira, adding: “Over 21 persons so far have been committed to the High Court through the Director of Public Prosecution.”

The Minister also said President =Joyce Banda had approved introduction of Independent Audit Committees for government ministries and that the committees would comprise non-serving public servants.

“In accounting, the IFMIS supplier has been engaged to enhance security and system controls, and to collate all suspicious transactions that have been tampered within the system,” he said.